We are against practices and laws that unfairly single out homeless people and criminalize them for everyday living and life-sustaining activities.

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Chico - Northern California Homeless Hatred

"Chico City Council Fueled Hate Crimes And Bigotry"

R-Town armed private guards roaming downtown removing homeless and giving them tickets for the crime of sitting or laying down ? Sub standard law enforcement hired for a perceived sub standard lower class of homeless American citizenry somehow devoid of the civil and constitutional rights and freedoms we all enjoy ?

Chico California has a homeless shelter crisis, and the local chapter of the ACLU agrees.

Downtown merchants allegedly threatening to "hose " homeless off the streets and sidewalks returning to the days of Birmingham and Martin Luther King with what seems like a stamp of approval from the City Council granting what can only be described as spiritual oppression, and a clear message of homeless having no right to exist.

“Is this not the fast that I have chosen:To loose the bonds of wickedness,To undo the heavy burdens,To let the oppressed go free,And that you break every yoke?Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out;When you see the naked, that you cover him,And not hide yourself from your own flesh?"

15 comments:

I am curious to know if you plan to focus on the other side of this issue. What about us who are downtown spending the money that we earned at our jobs and are harassed by some of the homeless. I have been downtown with my daughter and we have had to leave because of the sexual comments made toward me and my 7 year old by one of gentlemen in the videos above. I am in full support of the Jesus center, who helps those who wish to be helped. Many of those downtown, choose to sit around and harass business owners and patrons. It sickens me that you are focusing on what they encounter, many are truly in need but many choose this lifestyle and don't put a lot of effort to change. They are so used to handouts and things given to them. Why don't you publish information that would help them find shelters, information for substance abuse help, information on where to volunteer and help in the community (which can lead to a paid job). If you truly want to help the situation, look at both sides of the issue and ask yourself what are you doing to help? This one sided view is not helping.

Families, Children, Veterans, everyone in this poor economy should have a safe place where they can go at night and sleep without fear and their civil and constitutional rights violated. That’s why we need "safe ground". Redding, Chico, and most of California needs safe “legalized” campgrounds in every county where homeless folks can have clean water, bathrooms, and trash services until Redding, Butte, Shasta, and the other counties and cities in the state of California are willing and able to provide adequate shelters and affordable housing for the growing numbers of homeless folks free of homeless camping tickets, criminalization and sit-lie evictions.

Everyone like to point a finger and say "What are you doing to help?" That doesn't solve anything, you should be asking yourself that question. If everyone put a little effort into helping the community instead of demonizing people, things would be a lot better.

Also, homelessness is a national issue. Pushing it somewhere else isn't going to solve it. It's just going to keep coming back, because every community is doing the same thing.

The world is full of horrible things, ignoring those things and pushing them away does not change that fact. You'll have to deal with bad things all the time, and just because some homeless person said some stuff around you doesn't mean every homeless person is like that. Homelessness is not some sort of scarlett letter that turns people into bad people. Judge people based on their actions, and let the courts do the same.

This is blatant discrimination, and if you don't believe that it is, then you're a bigot and you're lying to yourself.

Don't they know that unless they have beds in a shelter they cannot legally arrest or harass homeless? Pottinger case, look it up. That is the reason that Miami has such a large shelter program. They got sued and now have a tax that pays the settlement and funds the shelters. It is the reason that Key West has a shelter. Both those places are a mecca for the homeless, but they must go to a shelter if they don't want to go to jail.

I was told by the man who owns the garden walk in Chico 10 years ago that he was going to kick my assand make me wish I never sat there. First off I never asked for money. I sat and played my guitar and put my hat out. I never have or never was hooked on drugs or was a disgusting waste of life. I was told by this man that I was a worthless piece of shit and I didn't deserve to be in Chico. a couple who knew me stood up for me and couched that I was a good person and never saw Mr act a fool. sorry to say but I never buy anything from the gardenwalk. no matter what they have. period. I am a good person who lives in her own house and has a good job. I used to play to put food in my.friends child's mouth. so sad I was treated like scum.

I moved here from Santa Cruz almost two years ago and I have never experienced a more heartless town. I moved here to buy a cheaper house and get a masters degree at CSU; however, not a day goes by that I don't think I've made a mistake, especially since the passing of the unconstitutional "sit/lie" ordinance! I know I'm only one woman, but I just joined he ACLU and I'm boycotting almost all of the downtown businesses (the ones the have allied themselves with the R-TOWN creeps). Do not give up hope! There are people in Chico who value people for what is in their heart and soul. I will add the GardenWalk to my *&^% list! Bless you!

I oppose Chico's sit/lie ordinance and am troubled by the presence of armed private security guards patrolling our streets, but its important to avoid hyperbole lest credibility be called to question. For that reason I'd like to clarify and request corroboration.

While the local police and park rangers have indeed stepped up harassment of homeless folks through enforcement of existing laws, this is first I've heard of R-Town guards giving tickets which they have no authority to issue Even after the law takes effect in a few weeks only sanctioned authorities, like the police, can issue tickets.

Regarding the gentleman who was hosed by a shop owner, while that is unquestionably despicable behavior your phrasing made it sound like a pattern rather than an isolated incident, and so I beg you to clarify. Is there a pattern of hosings and threats of same? If so please share more if possible.

Straying from accuracy allows one's opponents to easily dismiss all your other arguments.

I grew up in Chico and LOVED it when I was younger, now I am so saddened and angry at whats happened to my once loving peaceful(as peaceful as a place can be of course) little piece of paradise. There needs to be a solution not this trying to pass the problem off to some one else crap! Chico, step up and find a solution and become the little piece of paradise you once were!

Hi Anonymous, First of all bless you, and your empathetic heart. I pray that one day soon all humans will think the way we do. I am currently homeless. I am in Orange county, ca. In order to stay off the street I panhandle to pay for my motel room, and food. I do not wish to live this way. I have never been homeless before. I left my abuser. I was married to him for 17 years. This life on the street thing sucks. Shelters treat you like a criminal in prison. I spent 1 night in one, and I had to get out of there. Deplorable situation I was traumatized by it, and can't even speak if it in detail. I have been denied a lot of homeless help because I don't fall under their guidelines. I get 170 in foodstamps a month. That's it. I have searched tirelessly for more help to get a hand up. To no avail. I am literally on a hampster wheel to get $55.50-$65.50 a day to keep a roof over my head. If I pay after 11am there is a $10 late fee. This is the cheapest motel out here. I posted ads on craigslist begging for help. All I get is advice. Anyway, I have done a ton of research, and there is a solution to homelessness. It is called "Housing First" . I am really excited about it. I am passionate about being an advocate for the homeless. Very soon I am going to move up to Redding to be with my best friend and her family. They are currently staying in a motel out there, but they get help cuz, they are married, disabled, and have 2 kids. They are doing much better than me, and apparently the sweet souls there that are homeless. I am going to do all I can to implement the housing first program in Shasta and surrounding counties. I have a whole notebook full of ideas that will work and put an end to homelessness. I encourage you to check out the websites USICH.gov, endinghomelessness.org, huduser.org, and there are links that explain how it works and have had proven scientific results in cities in America already. When I get up there will you join me, and eradicate the stereo type that society thinks about the homeless? I am going to call my organization "Advocacy to end homelessness" Feel free to contact me via email. 2Pray4Hope@gmail.com God be with you, Barbie

Hi Anonymous, First of all bless you, and your empathetic heart. I pray that one day soon all humans will think the way we do. I am currently homeless. I am in Orange county, ca. In order to stay off the street I panhandle to pay for my motel room, and food. I do not wish to live this way. I have never been homeless before. I left my abuser. I was married to him for 17 years. This life on the street thing sucks. Shelters treat you like a criminal in prison. I spent 1 night in one, and I had to get out of there. Deplorable situation I was traumatized by it, and can't even speak if it in detail. I have been denied a lot of homeless help because I don't fall under their guidelines. I get 170 in foodstamps a month. That's it. I have searched tirelessly for more help to get a hand up. To no avail. I am literally on a hampster wheel to get $55.50-$65.50 a day to keep a roof over my head. If I pay after 11am there is a $10 late fee. This is the cheapest motel out here. I posted ads on craigslist begging for help. All I get is advice. Anyway, I have done a ton of research, and there is a solution to homelessness. It is called "Housing First" . I am really excited about it. I am passionate about being an advocate for the homeless. Very soon I am going to move up to Redding to be with my best friend and her family. They are currently staying in a motel out there, but they get help cuz, they are married, disabled, and have 2 kids. They are doing much better than me, and apparently the sweet souls there that are homeless. I am going to do all I can to implement the housing first program in Shasta and surrounding counties. I have a whole notebook full of ideas that will work and put an end to homelessness. I encourage you to check out the websites USICH.gov, endinghomelessness.org, huduser.org, and there are links that explain how it works and have had proven scientific results in cities in America already. When I get up there will you join me, and eradicate the stereo type that society thinks about the homeless? I am going to call my organization "Advocacy to end homelessness" Feel free to contact me via email. 2Pray4Hope@gmail.com God be with you, Barbie